PART II. 



LARKS. Alaudse. 



CHAPTER I. 



ENGLISH SKY-LARK. Alauda arvensis. 



The Sky-lark, though one of the plainest 

 birds in plumage, is at once the theme of 

 the poet and the delight of the villager 

 and farmer. He is a native of the broad 

 fields of "Old England;" and never was a 

 bird more esteemed, or more deservedly, 

 for the sweet character of his song. Yet, 

 although thus delightful in the cage, a 

 portion of the charm is lost for want of 

 association. To enjoy his silver strain, 

 one should stand at early dawn and see 

 the Lark rising almost perpendicularly in 

 the air from out the tufts of grass, beneath 

 the shelter of which his mate and nest is 



